Vessel
of Opportunity Skimming System (VOSS) The VOSS deployed on the U.S.
Coast Guard Cutter Katherine Walker during the New England
Environmental Expo in May, 1998 (Photo: USCG). The Coast Guard owns and
maintains pre-positioned Vessel of Opportunity Skimming System
(VOSS) equipment suites throughout the country at three spill
response Strike Teams and at strategic sites within each Coast Guard
District. Pre-positioned equipment in the First District is stored
in Portsmouth, NH and Davisville, RI (Quonset Point).

Each site has four flatbed
trailers that carry the VOSS and 5,000 feet of 42" open water
containment boom. The VOSS system, designed to be deployed on available
vessels of opportunity 60' or longer, consists of two Desmi 250 auger
screw skimmers, two outrigger arms and oil collection booms, a weight
handling davit and hoist, two diesel hydraulic prime movers, two
centrifugal transfer pumps, and two inflatable 28,000 gallon recovery
barges.

The VOSS equipment is
available to Coast Guard On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs), the lead federal
official in spill response in the coastal zone, as either a system or as
individual components to augment overburdened commercial resources
during a large spill in consultation with the First District in Boston.
Use of the propositioned VOSS is coordinated through First District
Response Advisory Team.

The First District has
coordinated (VOSS) or assisted with (SORS) the following training events
for the two on-water skimming systems: